Housing

If you need to find a place to stay, use these resources to find housing.

Help with U.S. Housing from Nova Ukraine

Our Emergency Housing / USA team can find free accommodation for Ukrainian citizens, mainly rooms, from one month to a few months. It’s better to start your search before you arrive in the US: when you receive your Travel Authorization, so you can arrive directly at the right location.

We help Ukrainian citizens find housing in the United States using the following sources:

  1. Free housing from our database of verified hosts in select states and cities
  2. Free 1-month housing from Airbnb (this program is scheduled to end on June 30, 2023)
  3. Referrals to local government and non-government programs that may help with housing
  4. Long-term rental housing, including from refugee-friendly landlords

To get our help:

Contact our team

Government Assistance

Ukrainians arriving under the Uniting for Ukraine program may be eligible for housing assistance from government-affiliated agencies. See our Welfare Aid page and contact your local refugee resettlement agency.

Refugee Housing Websites

Any person can offer housing on these platforms. These offers are not verified, so the responsibility for checking the safety of the listings lies with you. Most people genuinely want to help refugees, but beware of possible fraud.​

Most platforms have security tips on how to validate hosts or which red flags to look out for.

Some of these websites allow you to choose the language, including Russian or Ukrainian. Others are in English only. If the website is in English and you do not speak English, most browsers, including Google Chrome, can translate the webpage into a language of your choice, such as Ukrainian or Russian.

Keep in mind that people offering housing on these websites may not speak Russian or Ukrainian. In this case, you can communicate with the host in writing using Google Translate.

Short-Term Housing

Short-term rentals can be found on the following websites. Requirements vary by site, but most sites will accept tenants without credit history as long as a co-signer is provided or payment is provided upfront.

Co-livings are usually available for a 1-3 month minimum rental term. Check CoLiving.com, Common.com or google co-livings in your city.

Long-term apartment rental sites may also have variable lease apartments available – look for a “month-to-month lease” in order to find a shorter-term rental.

Long-Term Housing

Use the sites below to find an apartment to rent. Many long-term rentals require a rental agreement of 6-12 months, with a penalty for breaking the lease sooner. Many will also require you to include credit history, a reference from a previous landlord, and proof of income. 

If you are not able to provide these, consider looking for a shorter-term rental instead or utilizing a co-signer: a friend or family member who signs as a guarantor for your apartment. Some apartments will also forgo credit checks if you are willing to put down a bigger security deposit.​

Be prepared to pay your 1st month’s rent upfront along with a security deposit: a security deposit is money that the landlord holds to pay for damages to the apartment. If there is no damage when you move out, the money is returned to you. Some landlords also require the final month’s rent upfront.

🚨 BEWARE HOUSING SCAMS

Housing scams are common in the United States. Many scammers will post pictures of an apartment that does not exist or does not belong to them with the hopes that someone will “rent it” sight unseen – and then take off with your money. This scam is common on all major apartment rental sites.

  • Always request ownership documents (а deed) for the property from the landlord.
  • Never send money via money order to a landlord without first seeing the apartment in person – both inside and outside.
  • Always opt for a secure payment method. Many landlords will utilize an online portal for payment by credit card or will accept a check. Be wary of landlords that request cash or money order as payment. 
  • Money should change hands only after you sign a rental agreement.

Process of Renting

Apartment tour

Do not rent any apartment without seeing it in person first. This protects you from housing scams and helps ensure that the apartment is in good condition for living in.

During the tour, try to check the following:

  • Does the apartment have hot water?
  • Do all windows open and close as they should?
  • Is there evidence of vermin?
  • Are any electrical fixtures damaged or wires exposed?
  • Is there sufficient garbage collection?

During the tour, you may also ask the landlord about any policies or restrictions related to the apartment, such as restrictions on pets, number of occupants, or guests, as well as any amenities provided by the landlord, such as laundry, utilities, and community amenities.

Depending on where you live and how in-demand apartments are, be prepared to rent an apartment the same day you tour it.

Rental Application

When renting an apartment, the landlord may require you to fill out an application indicating your interest in renting. This application often includes a low fee (around $50) for performing a credit check and may request information such as driver’s license number, rental history, proof of income, and information about every occupant who will live in the apartment.

Rental Restrictions

Pets: Many landlords restrict whether pets are allowed on their property and how many pets are allowed. Even if pets are allowed on the property, be prepared to pay a fee for each pet.

Family members:  It is illegal for landlords to discriminate against people with children.

However, landlords may have limits on the number of occupants allowed in a rental unit. This means if you are a family of 4, for example, it may be challenging to find a one-bedroom apartment. Due to federal guidelines, these limits cannot be lower than two people per bedroom of the apartment.

Landlords may have additional restrictions, such as a limit on the number of overnight guests, noise restrictions, and others. Make sure to ask about these during the apartment tour or when speaking to the landlord. Any restrictions must be included in your rental agreement.

Utilities

It varies by the landlord about which utilities are provided in the rental cost of the apartment. Be sure to ask the landlord about which utilities are included.

Typical utilities are:

  • Garbage collection
  • Water
  • Electricity
  • Gas for cooking or heating

If utilities are not included in the rent, it is up to the tenant to contact the utility company and create a new account with them. Contact the utility company to create a new account and inform them of your move-in date.

Rental Insurance

Some landlords may require you to obtain renter’s insurance when renting their apartment. Even if it is not required, it is a good idea to obtain a renter’s insurance as a tenant.

This insurance policy covers: 

  • Damages to your personal property
  • Liability if someone gets hurt in your home
  • Damage to the apartment itself

This insurance is typically low cost – around $15 a month. 

Move In

On the start date of your contract, you will receive keys from the landlord and be allowed to move in your items. If electricity is not included in the rent, contact the electric company prior to your move-in date and inform them of the date you need power enabled. The same is true for phone, the Internet, and cable TV.

Be aware: In the United States, apartments are unfurnished unless indicated otherwise. During the move-in, the apartment will be empty – apartments typically include only a refrigerator and stove, and some additionally have a microwave or laundry.

See the Other Help page for information on finding furniture for your new apartment.

Interested in Helping Refugees?

If you are in the United States and would like to help refugees with housing or otherwise, see this information:

Help Refugees in the U.S.